University of North Dakota

Admission to the University of North Dakota is relatively accessible, though its selectivity is tighter than many comparable institutions. In the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, the university placed 227th among National Universities. For the 2025 admissions cycle, the school recorded an overall acceptance rate of 76.9%. When measured against public national universities with similar rankings, this admit rate was higher than 33% of peer schools. Meanwhile, the university posted an undergraduate yield rate of 34.7%, which was higher than 93% of peer schools in that same group. Although less than half of admitted applicants chose to matriculate, this enrollment draw demonstrates a substantially stronger pull than what is observed across most peer institutions. For prospective candidates, the admissions profile suggests an accessible entry point with solid regional appeal.

The University of North Dakota operates under an admission policy where test scores are not considered, meaning the institution is test-blind and standardized scores are not evaluated even if submitted. Recent years have no published score ranges. Back in 2022, 59% of entering students submitted ACT scores, reflecting the test's historical usage before testing considerations were ended. Because standardized testing plays no role in admissions decisions, high school coursework and grades serve as the primary academic measure. For the 2022–2023 entering cohort, student academic records were solid: 32.6% of freshmen entered with a high school GPA between 3.75 and 3.99, while another 22.54% fell in the range down to 3.5. Approximately one in ten students achieved top marks, and most other admitted applicants maintained at least a steady B average. For prospective students, this policy means an application relies heavily on high school transcripts, making consistent classroom performance and strong grades across all secondary school years the central focus.

Undergraduate degree conferrals at the University of North Dakota show moderate concentration in flagship fields, with the three largest bachelor programs accounting for 26.7% of all undergraduate completions in 2025. The single largest undergraduate program is Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology, General, which graduated 299 students that year. In contrast to undergraduate volume, the institution's highest academic rankings appear in specialized graduate disciplines. In the 2026 U.S. News graduate rankings, Petroleum Engineering ranked 18th, Occupational Therapy ranked 41st, and Legal Writing ranked 44th nationwide. In terms of early career outcomes, engineering majors lead in post-graduation compensation. According to 2023 earnings data one year after graduation, bachelor recipients in Chemical Engineering reported median earnings of $84,038, reflecting strong labor market returns for technical graduates.

The undergraduate community at the University of North Dakota is predominantly White, with minority and international student populations representing modest proportions of overall enrollment. Among undergraduate freshmen entering in 2025, international students numbered 57, accounting for 2.6% of the incoming class. Asian students within that same freshman cohort totaled 40, representing 1.8% of the group. Across returning undergraduates and graduate cohorts, White students continue to represent the vast majority of the campus population, though international students maintain a noticeably larger presence in graduate programs than in undergraduate classes. For prospective applicants, these figures illustrate a public university environment where Asian and international students form small, compact communities within the broader student body.

The undergraduate student body at the University of North Dakota is heavily traditional in age. In 2025, the youngest undergraduate cohort made up 32.6% of the undergraduate population, while the adjacent college-age group represented 29.3%. In contrast, graduate programs cater to adults further along in their professional paths. The primary graduate bracket accounts for 28.3% of graduate enrollment, with another 20.8% in the immediately preceding age category. This demographic division means undergraduate campus life is defined by traditional-age students participating in residential collegiate routines, while graduate studies draw individuals with greater professional experience.

International student participation at the University of North Dakota differs significantly between undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2025, international students made up 3.9% of the undergraduate student body. When evaluated against public national universities with similar rankings, this undergraduate proportion is higher than 80% of peer schools. In contrast, the graduate school maintains a much deeper global footprint, with international students accounting for 12.2% of graduate enrollment in 2025. Among degree recipients, international graduates concentrate primarily in technical and professional fields. In 2025, international students earned 11.7% of bachelor degrees awarded in Aeronautics, Aviation, and Aerospace Science and Technology, General, which is the university's largest undergraduate major. At the graduate level, international degree completions are also well represented across specialized education and applied health programs, underscoring that global recruitment is centered around professional graduate degrees and renowned aviation offerings.

Applicants considering the University of North Dakota have several alternatives across the Upper Midwest within a day's drive. In North Dakota, North Dakota State University-Main Campus is located 72.2 kilometers away and ranked 236 among National Universities in the 2027 U.S. News rankings. Across the state line in Minnesota, students looking at large public research institutions can evaluate University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, ranked 59 among National Universities and situated 273.5 kilometers from campus. Those interested in private liberal arts colleges can consider College of Saint Benedict, which is 208.7 kilometers away and holds a rank of 68 among National Liberal Arts Colleges, or Macalester College, located 277.5 kilometers away with a 2027 liberal arts ranking of 28.

Campus safety indicators at the University of North Dakota show marked improvement over the past decade. Forward Pathway's crime rate per 1,000 students dropped from 30.2 in 2016 to 10.4 in 2025. Across the three-year reporting period from 2023 to 2025, the vast majority of recorded campus incidents involved alcohol and substance enforcement rather than violent crime. Disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations formed the largest category, totaling 388 incidents over those years, alongside 190 alcohol arrests. Drug offenses and property crimes were recorded in much lower numbers across the same period. These statistics show that campus safety concerns are centered predominantly around substance policy enforcement and student disciplinary actions rather than serious criminal activity.